The Decline Of Xavi

Really interesting stats from whoscored.com comparing Xavi’s 2011/12 season versus last season. And the comparison does not make good reading.

While Xavi maintained the highest pass success rate in Europe last season with an unbelievable 94.8% accuracy, his average rating per match dropped from 7.76 to 7.16; a fall of 0.6, the highest in the Primera Division.

The problem for Xavi, is that while his passing accuracy dropped, he created a lot fewer goalscoring opportunities (44) than the previous year (65).

And it was not just in the final third that Xavi struggled. He won possession fewer times in the midfield third of the pitch in 2013(93), versus 2012 (101).

The numbers show that the 33-year-old’s influence on the game is starting to drop, which is why it makes no sense for Barca to consider selling Cesc Fabregas. He is a ready made replacement for Xavi, and I am sure that Tito Vilanova has been looking at these numbers as he plans for the new season.